Small efforts

Earlier posts:a micro effortanda follow up. This was started by Benjamin Kaila with the help of his cousin Rev. Sundar in January 2007. The first few were helped by the following type of loans.
1) Tea Stall 2,500.00 Chemudupadu, Tenali Mandal
2)Small shop 2,500.00 Chemudupadu, Tenali Mandal
3)Vending 2,500.00 Chemudupadu, Tenali Mandal
4) Small shop 2,500.00 Chemudupadu, Tenali Mandal
5) Vending Sarees 2,500.00 Laam, Guntur
All loans were repaid in full and were soon recycled for 3 other loans. I got to know Sri Benjamin Kaila through his Ambedkar Scholarship efforts and last year when I was visiting A.P. he asked me to examine these efforts since our native places were nearby and he could not visit home due to some visa difficulties. His fellow organizers in Ambedkar scholarships are also relatively young and busy with their jobs. I met Rev. Sundar, most of the beneficiaries and the next applicants in three villages and was impressed with the efforts and recommended upgrading the efforts. So far, we have collected over 150,000 rupees and loaned to nearly fifty people in four villages with the majority of the beneficiaries in Velur, the last loans given on May 17. Some of the new loans are of the type:
1) Sewing Machine 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
2) Sewing Machine 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
3) buffalo 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
4) buffalo 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
5) Milk buffelo 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
6) Small Business 5,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
7)Cycle Rikshaw 7,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
8) Sewing Machine 2,000.00 Veluru, Chilakaluripeta Mandal
The amounts usually depended on what applicants already saved and needed for the said purpose. After some discussion, it was decided that there should be some interest fot the loans and a strucured interest was designed which comes to about six perecent an year. Expenses are very small since Rev. Sundar does most of the work, sometimes with the help of relatives or members of his congregation. One of the villages (Veluru) is his native village and he worked as a pastor in the other villages and thus he knows the applicants well and his social poition probably helps in prompt repayments. This is probably just about what one person can do. It is expected that because Rev. Sundar's position in the community, there will not be many defaults. If there are, the effort will not be self sustaining and a little extra money will be needed to keep it going at the same level.
This effort just helps some people at the subsistence level to get by. Perhaps, somewhat bigger loans to cultivators or for buying machinary which generates some employment can be next. There was a proposal to buy a second hand machine costing 15,000 rupees to make paper plates but the transaction did not go through. Some wanted to lease and cultivate land and the amounts needed are about 10-12 thousand rupees per acre. So far, by the very nature of the community in which Rev. Sundar lives, most but not all the beneficiaries are Dalit Christians. Among similar communities, perhaps other pastors can be recruited. With different groups, one has to find reliable local persons who can undertake such work.
I do not know what comes next or whether this effort is sustainable, I think that even if it works for a few years and helps a few, it is worthwhile. Education for these poor seems to be difficult. In Velur, there is a library in the Dalit neighbourhood where the older students help the younger kids. But unfortunately many of the older kids themselves did not finish school.
P.S. A report from Benjamin Kaila:
Dear donors and friends,
As you know we conducted a microloan function on May 17, 2008 in Velur, Guntur Dist, AP. The function was a grand success, attended by around 150-200 people.

Though the function was conducted in a Mala Palle (Dalit settlement), many villagers attended the function. Click here for photos:
http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/microloans/07photos_ml1.htm

The facts and highlights of the function:
1. Donations for this instalment is from Prof Anandswarup, Australia, Mr Kamalakar, US (brother of Prof Anand, Ms Krishna Rao, US, and me)
2. Function was well attended by Dalits and non-Dalits
3. Distributed to 18 people, aid ranging from Rs.3,000-Rs.7,000. We selected 22 beneficiaries, but 2 were in the hospital and 4 others could not attend the function. We will disburse the remaining amount at a later date.
4. Two nursing students we helped last year (one by Ms Mina Kumar and the other by me) attended the function and spoke in the meeting.
5. Spontaneous aid of Rs.3000 was given to a non-Dalit sisters. They were unable to continue their studies and approached us, I was told.
6. Met Sr Sagaya Mary, principal of St Charles convent in Chilakaluripet. We gave 5 scholarships to her students from poor Dalit girls. She contacted me after reading about our project rom someone. She is 80+ years old and very dedicated, I was told. I spoke to her a couple of times before awarding scholarships. We are going to work with this school for identifying students in our new project called "Educational Adoption" starting from this year.
7. Our beneficiaries are varied and very happy. Please check the 3 carts (from the photos) we helped them to buy and do business (one water cart, 2 carts for transporting goods).

I am still waiting for a detailed report on the function. Once it is awailable, I will share with you all.
Many people from other villages are approaching us for loans. But, as you know, we are depending on you as we do not any sponsorship from organizations. If you give more, we help more and show what we can do.

See your $125-$150 is doing to the lives of these impoverished but self-determined people. So, please come and help us.
Anyway questions, I am just a click away!

With regards
Benjamin P Kaila